POLS 1002 Lecture 2: Book 2, 3 = Plato, The Republic
Document Summary
The point of the of republic is to define justice. Socrates thinks that there is a direct relationship between one"s lifestyle and your city"s way of life. Socrates is trying to prove that you should choose justice over heathenism, pursuit of power, etc. Justice is inferior to injustice (pursuit of pleasure and power) Glaucon and adeimantus (plato"s brothers, side of philosophy) restate thrasymachus" second claim justice in its conventional sense is overrated. They want to figure out the truth, instead of winning, playing devil"s advocate. Purely conventional = individuals want to do injustice, but are afraid of consequences, choose justice based on self-interested calculation, everyone must agree not to do harm to others so they themselves are not harmed. Ring of gyges story (he has a ring that makes him invisible, does injustice and no one knows, still has a good reputation because no one knows of his injustice, power is irresistible)
